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16 September, 2015

We are trying to articulate the season we are in. The word, "dormant" keeps coming up. We are waiting, resting and
recovering. We are not able to carry on our “missionary endeavors” as we usually
do when we are in this country. We aren’t scheduling meetings. We don’t have
office work to do. We aren’t planning what to say or show in the next
gathering. Hence, we feel dormant.

Recognizing this, we choose to wait with expectancy. We pray. We dream
aloud of what it will be like when we get to go home. We talk of hopes and
dreams for our participation in Uganda. We pray, listening. We set daily goals
and evaluate at the end of the day. We study in small increments, pacing with
activity and rest.

All around us we see creation preparing to enter its season
of dormancy. Trees are losing leaves. Flowers are fading. Some gardens are
waning. Outdoor temperatures are cooling in our area. Fall is coming on and we
delight in seeing the beauty it brings. We know that soon enough this beauty,
too, will fade as the trees/plants go dormant, waiting.

And then, in the most unexpected ways, we see that dormancy
is really preparation for new beginnings. While much of the plant kingdom is
preparing to shut down, others break out of dormancy into a new beginning.
Their time to bloom is now. New growth is taking place. God spoke lovingly to
us as we witnessed this in our little wooded setting during a recent walk.

Our hearts are encouraged. In dormancy good things can come. It is a
time of rich preparation for new beginnings. It is making us ready for what
comes next. Even as we feel dormant we recognize we are in a time of
preparation and learning.

Jeff is slowly moving onward. We aren’t stuck in the
round-a-bout anymore, but his forward locomotion feels slow and tedious. Fevers
still plague him. Physicians continue to run tests, ruling out what they can as
possible causes for the fluctuating temperature. Our calendar is dotted with
medical appointments. Jeff does well in getting out and about, then comes home
eager to lay down and rest. But he is gaining ground. This week he
begins his cardiac rehabilitation class. For the next couple of months or so he
will meet to exercise while having his heart monitored, learn more about living
with an artificial heart valve and how to maximize his recovery efforts. We
rejoice he has reached this important milestone.

We wait with expectancy, confident in God and his work in
us. We see his hand in it all and we rest in him. When we feel tempted to be
restless we remember the surprising flowers bursting forth in September (rather
than in May) and we marvel at the tiny new plants breaking through the rocky
soil and into the light. Then we lift our faces to the Son and soak in his
warmth that brings healing and hope. We are dormant, but not. Praise Jesus!

03 September, 2015

This past week has been a long month. Well, maybe not quite
that long but it seemed to take a lot longer than seven days to get into the
new week. We spent some tiresome days with a lot of waiting.

Waiting on results. Waiting for answers. Waiting to feel better.
A lot of waiting.

We have the mindset to learn all we can in this season of
traveling the road of recovery. Even when we are weary we remind each other to
learn well. So we wait and look to learn (even when blurry-eyed and muddle-headed
from little sleepJ).

A little frog hanging out around the water feature in our
wooded setting caught our attention. The frog sat so still for long periods of
time. It waited. We watched. The frog was active while waiting, positioning
itself ever so carefully for the best advantage in food-gathering and
self-defense.

During the long dry spell we watched how various plants
responded to lack of water. These rhododendrons hung their leaves, drooping
them way down as they waited for water. (I didn’t take a picture of them that
way, because, well, who wants a picture of wilted rhodies?) Then, when the rain
finally came, those leaves were perfectly positioned to channel all the rain
drops right down toward their roots. The plants were active while waiting for
the rain. After rain, they perked right up and pointed their leaves back toward
the sun.

Actively waiting. How could I do the same? How should I best
position myself? My mind went to Isaiah 40. “Wait on the Lord.” My mind saw,
“Wait on,” and flashed back to days of waiting tables. (No photos available. Didn't want to spend hours sorting through our storage to find some.) Waiting on people seated
at the table. Active in that role of waiting, I was attentive to the wishes of
those who were eating at “my” tables. I went back to them over and over,
engaging with them to find out how I could better wait on them.

“Wait on the Lord.” So I am. I go to his table over and over
again. I find as I offer praise, as I listen to his word and talk with him
about Jeff’s recovery, I get rightly positioned and find joy in waiting.

We came to the Lord’s Table today and thanked him for
reduced fever and for increasing strength. We rejoiced in his companionship on
the road of recovery. We gave praise for better sleep. We thanked him for the many
people praying for us, encouraging us to rightly position ourselves as we wait
on the Lord. We told him of our gratitude for his enabling us to learn in every
season. We praised him for the privilege of actively waiting on him.

Jeff & Christine

Why We Serve

Since arriving on the continent of Africa as missionaries, we have taken chances, faced challenges, and seen many changes. Through it all, we have experienced God's faithfulness and provision. As new missionaries, we claimed 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 as our life verses, reminding us that "God is our adequacy." We relied on God's help as we adapted to new cultures and learned to use our professional skills in new ways. We sought His help as we built relationships with our missionary co-workers and those we serve in Africa.

As we continue to serve, we continue to rely on God to be our adequacy. In Uganda we encounter great challenges, yet great joys as we experience God working to bring wholistic transformation to lives. We are excited about continuing to serve God in Uganda and the surrounding countries. As we grow in our personal relationships with Christ, we want to share more of the abundant life in Him with others.